Willie Winkie

Willie Winkie

Original Text
William Miller, Willie Winkie (Paisley: Gleniffer Press, 1983). Cambridge University Library Syn. 10.98.4 (copy 10). (From Bairns Songs [1865].)
1WEE WILLIE WINKIE
2                                   rins through the toon,
3Up stairs an doon
4                                   stairs in his nicht-gown,
5Tirlin' at the window,
6                                   crying at the lock,
7"Are the weans in their bed,
8                                   for it's now ten o'clock?"
9"Hey, Willie Winkie,
10                                   are ye comin' ben?
11The cat's singin' grey
12                                   thrums to the sleepin hen,
13The dog's speldert on
14                                   the floor and disnae gie a cheep,
15But here's a waukrif laddie
16                                   that wanna fa' asleep."
17Onything but sleep, you rogue,
18                                   glow'rin like the moon,
19Rattlin' in the airn jug
20                                   wi' an airn spoon,
21Rumblin', tumblin' roon about
22                                   crawin' like a cock,
23Skirlin' like a kenna-what,
24                                   waukenin' sleepin' folk.
25"Hey, Willie Winkie,
26                                   the weans in a creel,
27Wamblin' aff a bodie's knee
28                                   like a verra eel,
29Ruggin' at the cat's lug and
30                                   rauelin' a' her thrums --
31Hey, Willie Winkie,
32                                   see, there he comes!"
33Wearit is the mither
34                                   that has a stoorie wean,
35A wee, stumpie, stousie,
36                                   that canna rin his lane,
37That has battle aye wi'
38                                   sleep afore he 'll close an e',
39But a kiss frae aff his
40                                   rosy lips gives strength anew to me.

Notes

5] Tirlin': rapping. Back to Line
7] weans: wee ones. Back to Line
10] ben: in. Back to Line
12] thrums: hums, purrings. Back to Line
13] speldert: sprawled. Back to Line
14] disnae: does not. Back to Line
15] waukrif: wide-awake. Back to Line
16] wanna: will not. Back to Line
19] airn: iron. Back to Line
23] Skirlin': screaming. kenna-what: you-don't-know-what. Back to Line
26] creel: tizzy. Back to Line
27] Wamblin': rolling. Back to Line
29] Ruggin": pulling. lug: ear Back to Line
30] rauelin': undoing. Back to Line
33] mither: mother. Back to Line
34] stoorie: stirring. Back to Line
35] stumpie: short. stousie: not known. Back to Line
36] rin his lane: run by himself. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1841
Publication Notes
Whistle-binkie: a Collection of Songs for the Social Circle, series 1-4, ed. J. D. Carrick and Alexander Rodger (Glasgow: Robertson, 1842). LE.C W5764 Robarts Library
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2002
Rhyme
aabb